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King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys 11-Plus

Guide for students seeking entry into a Birmingham Grammar School - September 2025

If you're considering enrolling your son at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, this page contains all the information you will need for the 2025 We have also provided useful information for each of the Birmingham Grammar Schools which you find on this page, or by using the drop down menu.

Handsworth Grammar School

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

Established in 1862, King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is a prestigious institution that prides itself on offering a challenging and enriching academic experience for its students.

As the oldest surviving selective school in Birmingham, King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys is firmly focused on the future.

Embracing new technologies and innovative teaching methods, the school is dedicated to equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

With an Outstanding rating in every category from Ofsted, the school is committed to creating a supportive and stimulating environment that nurtures pupils’ educational growth and success.

Beyond academic excellence, the school also places great importance on the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of its students.

With a commitment to fostering positive values and attitudes, King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys strives to help its students become responsible, engaged, and compassionate members of society.

School Information

Address: Grove Lane, Handsworth, Birmingham, B21 9ET Local authority: Birmingham City Council School type: Boys' Grammar Headteacher: Simon Bird National Rank: 232 Sunday Times Parent Power A Level Results: 63.9% A*-B GCSE Results: 57.8% 9/8/7 Ofsted Report: View Report № of Pupils: 934 Student to Teacher Ratio: 19 : 1

Year 7 Entry Information

Admissions Contact: Online Form № of Year 7 Places: 150 Qualifying Score: 205 Last Cut-off Score: 215 Lowest admitted score last academic year 11-plus Exam Application: Apply Online 11-plus Registration Opens: May 2024 11-plus Registration Closes: 4pm, 30th June 2024 Open Day: September 2023 Exam Date: September 2024 Exam Type: West Midlands 11+ Test National school offer day: 1st March 2025 Common Application Form (CAF) Deadline: 31st October 2024

King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys Term Dates

These are the 2024-2025 term dates for the King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys:

Autumn Term: 4th September – 22nd December 2023 Half Term: 30th October – 3rd November 2023 Spring Term: 8th January – 22nd March 2024 Half Term: 12th – 16th February 2024 Summer Term: 8th April – 22nd July 2024 Half Term: 27th – 31st May 2024

Entry Requirement Comparison

Dashed line represents average Tuition Tree student score

How far away is King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys?

Enter your postcode below to see how far you are from this school and all other Birmingham Grammar Schools.

How to Apply to King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys

This particular school shares a common entrance test and admissions process with 18 other grammar schools in Birmingham, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Wallsall, and Wolverhampton. This means that your child is only required to take one exam in order to apply to any of these schools.

1: Register for the West Midlands 11-plus test

When your child reaches Year 5, sign them up for the 11 plus at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys Online Here. Registration begins at 9am on the May 2024, and concludes at 4pm on 31st October 2024.

If your child is a recipient of Pupil Premium, make sure to indicate this on the registration form and provide the necessary documentation. This will give your child priority in accordance with the school's admission criteria.

2: Apply for School Places

Once your son has taken the 11-plus exam, you will receive the results in mid-October.

If your child receives a mark of 205 or above, they can put this, and other Birmingham grammar schools on their local authority application form.

The application form must be submitted by 31st October 2024.

Before listing this school as a preference, you see the admissions criteria here

Select the area in which you live below to see which local authority you should use for your application.

3: National school offer day

On 1st March 2025 you will receive notification of the school where your child has been admitted. Your highest-ranked school preference that matches their qualifications and has available spots will be the school they are assigned to. In the event that none of your preferred schools have vacancies, an alternative school in your vicinity will be designated. .

Entry Criteria

The planned admission number (PAN) for the school is 150.

In the instances where the number of qualifying children exceeds the available places (which is highly probable), King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys follows a specific order when offering places:

  1. Children who have been Looked-After, or were previously Looked-After, and have attained at least the minimum required 11 Plus grade, ranked in order of the test scores and by distance from the school.
  2. Children receiving free school meals who live in the catchment area and have attained at least the minimum required 11 Plus grade, ranked in order of the test scores and by distance from the school.
  3. If fewer than 38 children receiving free school meals within the catchment area are offered places, then places are offered to children receiving free school meals outside the catchment area who have attained at least the minimum required 11 Plus grade.
  4. Children who have attained at least the minimum required 11 Plus grade and live within the catchment area. Priority is given to children who have siblings who are already attending King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, then ranked according to distance from school.
  5. Children who have attained at least the minimum required 11 Plus grade, ranked in order of the test scores. If the scores are equal, children who have siblings already attending King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys are given priority, and then ranked according to distance from school.

The catchment area for King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys comprises home addresses in the following electoral wards:

Birmingham:

  • Birchfield
  • Edgbaston
  • Handsworth
  • Handsworth Wood
  • Holyhead
  • Kingstanding
  • Ladywood
  • Lozells
  • Newtown
  • North Edgbaston
  • Oscott
  • Perry Barr
  • Soho & Jewellery Quarter

Sandwell:

  • Smethwick
  • Soho & Victoria
  • St Paul’s
  • West Bromwich Central

What's on the 11-plus Exam in Birmingham?

The exam will take place on the September 2024.

The West Midlands 11 plus test is provided by GL Assessment and consists of two papers, each taking approximately 60 minutes to complete. A brief period is allotted at the start of each paper for students to receive instructions and complete ungraded practice questions.

Each paper is subdivided into separately timed sections that evaluate students’ abilities in:

  • English comprehension
  • Mathematics
  • Verbal reasoning
  • Non-verbal reasoning

The test is exclusively in multiple-choice format, with no written portions. Students record their responses in a separate answer booklet that is graded electronically.

The mathematics and English questions examine students’ knowledge of Key Stage 2 national curriculum material, including Year 6 targets. It evaluates their ability to reason and apply their knowledge accurately.

The reasoning questions assess students’ logical and problem-solving abilities. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning are usually not taught in school. They are designed to measure how well students can detect patterns, connect ideas, and manipulate written and visual information.

If you would like to understand your child’s current 11-plus readiness better, book a Free Assessment with Tuition Tree.

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